Time-switch.



A. STRENG.

TIME SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17. 1916.

1,1 9 1 ,745. Patented July 18, 191

B Q'nairew Siren STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW STRENG, F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MICHAEL J. DUFFECY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

TIMESWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW STRENG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time-Switches,

broken, for extinguishing the lights at a predetermined hour, thereby eliminating the presence of a human operator.

I accomplish the object of the invention by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of myimproved time switch, showing the parts set with the electric circuit closed and the lights on. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 except that the parts are shown moved into position to break the electric circuit and extinguish the lights. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail in side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a top view of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. dis a view of the back side of the lever and ratchet, on the dotted line 5"5 in Fig.3. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lever and ratchet. I

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents the porcelain base of an ordinary snap switch in universal use, and 1.1 the metal cap for inclosing the movable parts.

12 represents the usual hand-knob which is secured to the free end of a revoluble shaft 13 through which the movable parts of the switch are actuated to open and close the electric circuit in the line wire 14 into which the switch is interposed. Under ordinary usage the hand-knob 12 is grasped by the operator and given a turn of approximately ninety degrees to move the movable parts of the switch to either close or open the electric circuit. In order to automatically revolve shaft 13 of the switch a suflicient, distanceto openthe electric circuit at the proper time a ratchet wheel 20 is secured to shaft v13. As shown in Fig. 6 the ratchet wheel 20 is rigidly mounted on shaft 13 and is provided with a hub 21 which extends into an aperture in the lever 22 and forms a pivot for said lever. Lever 22 carries a pawl 23 adapted to engage and move the ratchet wheel 20 and shaft 13 in one direction of its movement of travel and said pawl is held normally into contact with said ratchet wheel by means of a spring 24. The free end of lever 22 engages a connecting rod 25 which extends to and connects with the outer end of crank-arm 28. Arm 28 is formed integrally with a shaft 29 which is rotated at the proper time by means of the clock mechanism in the same manner in Which said shaft rotates under ordinary circumstances when the alarm is sounded. When the alarm mechanism of the clock is sprung at the proper time the arm 28 moves approximately ninety degrees, from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, when further movement of said arm is arrested by means of a stop 30. This move ment' of the arm 28 is suflicient to rock the lever 22 and shaft 13 and shift the movable parts of the switch the proper distance to open the electric circuit in line wire 14 and extinguish the lamps in the circuit. When it is desired to set the device handle 32, rod 25 and lever 22, arm 28, may initially be depressed from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown by means of dotted lines in Fig. 1-in order that pawl 23 will be moved around the circumference of ratchet wheel 20 a sufiicient distance to insure shaft 13 being moved the proper dis tance when the alarm mechanism of the clock is sprung-when after lever 22, arm 28 and connecting rod 25 are permitted to move upward and assume the position indicated in Fig. 2,'at which point the parts are held by the clock vmechanism in the same way that the alarm mechanism is held.

described mechanism. The clock is held in' proper working relation with the switch by means of any suitable wire clamps 33. These clamps while yieldingly holding the clock in position, by exerting sufficient pressure to firmly hold the clock on a vertically disposed wall, readily allow the clock to be removed when desired.

\Vhile I have described my invention with more or less minuteness as regards details of construction and arrangement and as being embodied in certain precise forms, I do not desire to be limited thereto unduly or any more than is pointed out in the claims. ()n the contrary, I contemplate all proper changes in form, construction and arrangement, the omission of immaterial elements,

and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or necessity render expedient.

I claim:

1. In a time actuated switch, the combination with a revoluble switch-shaft, a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted on said shaft, a lever, means carried by said lever for engaging and actuating said ratchet wheel, a clock mechanism, and means for connecting said clock mechanism and lever together.

2. In a time actuated switch, the combination with a revoluble switch-shaft, a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted on said shaft, a lever, means carried by said lever for engaging and actuating said ratchet wheel, means for normally holding said preceding means into engagement with said ratchet wheel, a clock mechanism, and means for connecting said clock mechanism and lever together.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 11th day of March, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and sixteen.

ANDREW STRENG. L s.] 

